Loose leaf binder mechanisms



w. STARK 2,871,711

LOOSE LEAF BINDER MECHANISMS l l4 shceei'-sheeil 1 Feb. 3, 1959 AFiledJan. 29,1954

. IN VEN TOR. /amf JJM LM i SJM /I TT ORNEY Feb. 3, 1959 W. STARK` LOOSELEAF' BINDER MECHANISMS Filed Jan. 29. 195.4

`4 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTORNEY W. STARK LOOSE LEAF' BINDER MECHANISMS Feb. 3,1959 Filed Jan. 29, 1954 4 Sheets-Shea?l 3 IN VEN TOR. Y Afl-64 fuk B S.S En ATTORNEY Feb. 3, 1959 w. STARK 2,871,711

LoosE LEAF BINDER MECHANISMS Filed Jan. 29, 1954 @sheets-sheet 4 VIM susl vill/m INVENTOR. BY Um JM flu-M S. @bien TTORNEY nited States PatentroosE LEAF BINDER -MECHANISMS Walter Stark, Bonn (Rhine), Germany,assignor to F. Soennecken, Bonn (Rhine), Germany Application January 29,1954, Serial No. 407,059

Claims priority, application Germany February 3, 1953 Claims., (Cl.74-97) The present invention relates to loose leaf binder mechanismswhich are adapted to releasably hold together a plurality of sheets in apredetermined order.

Loose leaf binder mechanisms of this type are already known, but theypossess certain disadvantages. Thus,

when the binder is substantially filled with sheets, the

loose leaf mechanism for releasing the sheets and for maintaining thesame in the desired order is exceedingly dicult to operate because themany sheets provide an extremely small space for the loose leaf bindermechanism. One of the principal diculties of this known mechanism arisesfrom the fact that the mechanism is operated by a lever which movesdownwardly during the closing of the mechanism and upwardly during theopening of the mechanism, and the small space provided by the sheets ofpaper orthe like makes it extremely difficult for the operator to placea linger beneath the operating lever to raise the same. Furthermore,with the known loose leaf binder mechanisms, it is almost alwaysnecessary for the operator to hold the sheets with one hand whileoperating the mechanism with the other hand to close the same, where themechanism is substantially lled with sheets, so that this knownmechanism cannot be operated with one hand at all times.

One of the objects of the present invention is to overcome the abovedrawbacks by providing a loose leaf binder mechanism which may beconveniently and easily operated irrespective of the number of sheetsheld by the mechanism. Y y

A further object of the present invention is to provide a loose leafbinder mechanism which may be opened and closed by moving an operatinglever in only one direction for both the opening and closing of themechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a loose leafbinder mechanism which is made up of a relatively small number of simpleand ruggedly constructed parts which provide a very reliable operationover a long period of time.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a loose leafbinder mechanism whose moving parts are all covered by other parts ofthe mechanism so that the possibility of faulty operation is reduced toa minimum.

With the above objects in view, the above invention mainly consists of aloose leaf binder mechanism which includes a base plate means having apair of stationary pin portions fixed thereto and extending therefrom.Any

elongated member having a pair of movable pin portions respectivelyextending from opposite ends thereof is turnably carried by and extendsalong the base plate means for moving, during turning of the elongatedmember, the movable pin portions between a closed position, where freeends of the movable pin portions respectively engage free ends of thestationary pin portions and form closed loops therewith, and an openposition where `the movable pin portions are spaced from thestationarypin portions, this elongated member having an offset crankportion located between its ends. A first spring engages the crankportion ofthe Velongated member for urging the movable pin portions tothe open position thereof. A stationary lock member is fixed to the baseplate means. A movable lock means for holding the movable pin portionsin the closed position thereof when the movable lock means is in alocked position thereof engages the crank portion to move the same andto be moved thereby, this movable lock means vhaving a locking portionengaging the stationary lock member when the movable lock means is inits locked position. A manually operable lever is turnably carried byone of the above mentioned means for turning movement from a restposition through a predetermined distance-with respect to and intoabutment with the movable lock means for moving the latter, afterabutment therewith, to the locked position thereof so as tosimultaneously move the crank portion through the movable lock meansagainst the action of the first spring during movement of the movablepin portions to the closed position thereof. A second spring engages thelever for urging the latter to the rest position thereof, and a pawlmeans is turnably carried by the lever and engages the movable lockmeans for moving the locking portion thereof o ut of engagement with thestationary lock member to release the movable lock means and theelongated member carrying the movable pin portions to the inuence of thefirst spring to movel the movable pin portions from the closed to theopen position thereof, so that the latter is moved in only one directionduring both opening and closing of the loose leaf binder mechanism.

The novel features which are considered characteristic for the inventionare set forth in particular in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willYbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. l is a fragmentary, partly sectional, side elevational view of oneloose leaf binder mechanism constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, the mechanism of Fig. l being shown in its closed position;

Fig. 2 is a view of the structure of Fig. l as seen from the left endthereof;

Fig. 3 is' a view corresponding to Fig. 1 but showing the parts in theopen position of the loose leaf binder mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing the mechanism inthe open position thereof;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, partly sectional, side elevational view of asecond embodiment of a loose leaf binder constructed in accordance withthe present invention and showing this embodiment in its open position;

Fig. 5a is a view of the structure of Fig. 5 as seen from the left endthereof;

Fig.'6 shows the structure of Fig. 5 in the closed position of the looseleaf binder mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a third embodiment of aloose leaf binder mechanism constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, the mechanism of Fig. 7 being shown in its closed positionand one of the plates of the mechanism of Fig. 7 being omitted from Fig.7 to show the elements located behind this plate;

Fig. 8 shows the structure of Fig. 7 in its open position;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9--9 of Fig. 8 in thedirection of the arrows; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10--10 of Fig. 8 in thedirection of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing, and to Figures l to 4 in particular, itwill be seen that the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figuresl to 4 includes a base plate la provided with upwardly struck curvedtongues w59 4a and 5d which turnably guide an elongated member 6 whichextends along the base plate 1a and which has at its opposite ends,respectively, a pair of movable pin portions 2 and 3 which turn togetherwith the elongated member 6, this elongated member 6 being integral withpin portions 2 and 3 and having between its ends an offset crank portion7 which is engaged by a leaf spring 8 xed to the base plate 1a, thisleaf spring tending to turn the elongated member 6 and the movable pinportions 2 and 3 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures2 and 4, from the closed position shown in Figure 2 to the open positionshown in Figure 4. A pair of stationary pin portions 2a and 3a arexed toand extend from the base plate 1a and have free ends, respectively,engaged by free ends of the movable pin portions 2 and 3 when the looseleaf binder mechanism is in its closed position, as shown in Figure 2,the movablev pin portions 2 and 3 being spaced from the stationary pinportions 2a and 3a when the loose leaf binder mechanism is in its openposition shown in Figure 4.

A manually operable lever 9a is provided for actuating the mechanism,and this lever 9a has at `its outer left free end portion, as viewed inFigures l and 3, a finger piece 10a which is engaged by the operator todepress the lever 9a. As is evident from Figures l and 3, the lever 9ais bifurcated and has a pair of side walls 11 and 11a which arepivotally connected by a pivot pin 12 to a carrier 13 of U-shapedcross-section, this carrier 13 having a pair of side walls 14 and 14abetween which the pivot pin 12 extends and between which the side `walls11 and 11a of lever 9a are located. Moreover, the side walls 14 and 14aof carrier 13 carry a pin 15a extending through aligned openings in theside walls and fixed thereto in any well known manner. Pin 15a extendsoutwardly beyond wall 14a and engages the crank portion 7 of theelongated member 6, as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The side walls 11 and 11a of lever 9a carry a pivot pin 16a whichpivotally supports a pawl 16a located between the side walls 11 and 11aof lever 9a and having a free end 17 which cooperates with an opening 1Sformed in a movable lock member 19a formed from a flat strip of metaland slidably carried by the carrier 13 between the side walls 14 and 14athereof, The lock member 19a has an end portion 2t) which in the closedposition of the loose leaf binder mechanism extends into an opening 21formed in a stationary lock member 22 which forms a tongue struckupwardly from the base plate 1a. It will be noted that'therstationarylockmember 22 is curved. A wire spring 23 is fixed intermediate its endsto the pivot pin 12 and has an end 24 in engagement with the pawl 16a tourge the latter toward the lock member 19a, while the opposite end 25,of spring 23 is fixed to the movable lock member 19a to urge the latterto the left, as viewed in Figures l and 3, toward the stationary lockmember 22.

The carrier 13 is provided at the right end thereof, as viewed in Figs.l and 3, at a portion extending beyond the side walls thereof withportions 3111 and 31 which extend outwardly beyond the side walls andthrough openings, respectively, formed, respectively, in a pair ot ears32 and 33 struck upwardly from the base plate 1n so that the carrier 13is turnable in holes 34 of ears 32 and 33 about the horizontal axisextending through the portions 36 and 31 of of carrier 13.

A pin 27 is fixed to and extends upwardly from the base plate 1a throughan opening 2,9 formed in the lever 9a, this pin 27 having a headl 28 atvits top end which. engages the lever 9a to limit the turning movementthereof in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures l and 3, the leftfree end portion of lever-9a, as viewed in Figures l and 3, extending ina substantially horizontal. direction where it is substantially parallelto the base plate 1a when the lever 9a is in its rest position in en- 4gagement with the head 28 of pin 27. A coil spring 27a surrounds the pin27, abuts with its bottom end against the base plate 1a, and abuts withits top end against the lever 9a to urge the latter to its rest positionagainst the head 28.

The above described structure operates in the following manner:

The parts 13, 15a, and 19a form a movable lock means which cooperateswith the stationary lock mem- 'oer 22 to hold the loose leaf bindermechanism in its closed position against the action of spring 8, and thepawl means 16a cooperates with this movable lock means to release thelatter from the stationary lock meniber' 22 so that the movable pinportions 2 and 3 are released to the influence of the spring 8 to bemoved thereby to the open position of the mechanism shown in Figures 3and 4. Assuming that the parts are in the closed position shown inFigures l and 2, the operator presses downwardly on linger piece 10a toturn the lever 9a in a counter-clockwisev direction about pivot point12, as viewed in Figure l, so that the pawl means 16a moves downwardly.In this way, the pawl 16a turns with respect to the lever 9a since theend 17 of the pawl is in the opening 18 ofV the movable lock member 19.Thus, the depression of lever 9a causes the pawl 16a to move the lockmember 19a against the action of spring 23 to the right, asviewed inFigure l, untilthe end 20 oflock member 19a is out of engagement withthe stationary lock member 22, and then the spring 3 turns the crankportion 7 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, andthis. crank portion 7 through its engagement with the pin 15a, turns thecarrier 13 upwardly in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure l. Itwill be noted that the. pin 15a. thus becomes located in a cut-out 26formed in the -pawl 16a as is shown particularly in Figure 3. Duringdownward movement oflever 9a from the position ofFig..l the pin 15acomes into contact with the edge. of cutout 26 before the pin 15aengages the edge ofthe. cutouts 35. The spring 8 acts through the crankportion 7 and pin 15a to turn the pawl 16a upwardly with respect. to thelever 9a, so that in this way the end 17 of the pawl 16a' is moved outof the opening 1S of the lock member 19a. Once the end 17 of this pawlis out of. opening 1S the spring 23 moves the movable lock member 19a tothe left, as viewed in Figs. l and 3, to the. starting position of thislock member. Thus,.the. spring Smoves theV movable pin. portions 2 and 3away from the stationary, pin portions 2a and 3a to the open positionshown in Figure 4. Upon release. of lever 9a, the spring 27a urges thelever to its rest4 position in which it is located while the mechanismlis open, as shown in Figure 3.

When the operator wishes to close the loose leaf binder mechanism, thelever 9a is again depressed. Thus, the lever 9a which is provided in itsside walls 11 and 11a with cutouts similar to. cutout26 engages the pin15a to move the latter. downwardly so. as to turn crank portion 7 in aclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, against the action of springS to move the movable pin portions 2 and 3 to their closed position,shown in Fig- 2, where they, respectively, form closed loops with thestationary pin portions 2a and 3a. At the same time the carrier 13 isturneddownwardly and the end 20 of lock member 19a engages the curvedstationary lock member 22 so that the movable lock member 19a is movedto the right against the action of spring 23 until the carrier 13reaches the positionV shown in Figure l where the spring 23 urges theend 20 ofv lock member. 19a into opening 21 of the stationary lockmember 22 so that the movable lock means isthus secured in its lockedposition. shown in Figure 1. Then the operator releases the lever 9awhich is returned to its rest position by the spring 27a, and the end 17of pawl 16a' again becomes located in the opening 18 of movable lockmember 19a, so that when of lever 9a.

The embodiment of the invention which is shown in Figures and 6 isstructurally `simpler than the embodiment shown in Figures l to 4. Themovable plain shaped lock member 19b of Figures 5 and 6 is not guided ina carrier, as is the case with the embodiment of Fig ures 1 to 4, butinstead has its opposite ends respectively extending through slot likeopenings of a stationary lock member 39 struck upwardly from the baseplate 1b and a stationary guide member 40 also struck upwardly from thebase plate 1b, this base plate having upwardly struck curved tongues 4band 5b which guide the elongated member 6 for turning movement in thesame way as with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. The movable andstationary pin portions as well as the leaf spring 8 and crank portion 7of member 6 are identical with the structure of Figures 1 to 4. As isapparent from Figures 5 and 6, which respectively show the mechanism inits open and closed positions, the members 39 and 40 guide thelockmember 19b for turning movement as well as for shifting movement to theright and left, as viewed in Figures 5 and 6. The stationary lock member39 is provided with a transverse portion 41 which is parallel to baseplate 1b and which defines part of the opening of member 39 throughwhich lock member 19b extends, and the member 40 is also provided with atransverse portion 42 parallel to plate 1b and defines part of theopening of member 40 through which lock member 19b freely extends. Thepin b, which corresponds to pin 15a of Figures l to 4, is fixed directlyto lock member 19h. The pin 15b has preferably the form of a shoulderpin as the pin 15C shown in Fig. 9 and is fastened to lock member 19b ina similar manner as pin 15e is fastened to plates 63, 64. The pin 15b islocated in the path through which the crank portion 7 turns. To decreasethe friction between vcrank portion 7 and pin 15b, the latter turnablycarries a roller 38b formed with an annular outer groove in which crankportion 7 is located and the roller 33b is formed and held on pin 15b ina similar manner as illustrated for roller 38C and pin 15e` in Fig. 9.

The member 40 is provided with a pair of eyes 43 which carry a pivot pin44 on which the manually operable lever 9b is pivotally mounted, thislever 9b having a finger portion 10b which the operator engages todepress the lever 9b. The'lock member 19b is provided with an inclinedupper edge portion 19b against which a roller 50, turnably carried bylever 9b, is adapted to press. Another edge portion of lock member 19bis formed with a cutout 53 into which the transverse portion 41 ofmember 39 extends for holding the lock means 19b, 15b in its lockedposition shown in Fig. 6. The lock member 19b is also provided with anextension 57 at its left end, as viewed in Figures 5 and 6.

The lever 9b has a U-shaped cross-section, as seen in Fig. 5a, so as tobe provided with opposite side walls, and a pivot pin 16b is fixed toand extends between these side walls, this pivot pin 16b turnablycarrying a pawl 16b comprising a pair of opposite side wall portionslocated within the side walls of lever 9b and united by a .cross wallportion extending between and substantially normal to the side wallportions. A wire spring 56 extends about the pivot pin 1611, has one endin engagement with lever 9b, and has an opposite end portion inengagement with the cross wall portion of pawl 16b to urge the latterinto engagement with the movable lock member 19h, the pawl 1617extending into a cutout 58 formed in the movable lock member 19b. Thus,the single spring 56 serves to maintain the pawl 16b in operativeengagement with movable lock member 19h and to return the lever 9b toits rest position, shown in Figures 5 and 6, after depression of thelever 9b.

The structure of Figures 5 and 6 operates in the following manner:

if it is desired to move the loose leaf binder mechanism from the openposition of Figure 5 to the closed position of Figure 6, then theoperator engages the linger portion 10b of lever 9b to depress thelatter. As is apparent from Figure 5, the roller engages the edgeportion 19b of lock member 19b, so that the latter is turned downwardly,and because of the inclination of edge 19b, the roller 50 urges the lockmember 19b to the left, as viewed in Figure 5, simultaneously withdownward movement of the movable lock member 19b. This lock member 19bwill be moved downwardly and urged to the left until the transverseportion 41 of the stationary lock member 39 becomes located in thecutout 53 of lock member 19b, so that this lock member is secured in itslocked position, and it will be noted that simultaneously with thedownward movement of lock member 19b the pin 15b through roller 38bdepresses crank portion 7 to move the movable pin portions 2 and 3 totheir closed position. Thus, the stationary lock member 39 serves thesame purpose as the stationary lock member 22 of Figures 1 to 4.

lf it is desired to open the loose leaf binder mechanism, so that theparts thereof move from the position of Figure 6 to that of Figure 5,then the lever 9b is again depressed. It should be noted that afterclosing of the loose leaf binder mechanism, the spring 56 returns thelever 9b to the position shown in Figure 6 and locates the pawl 16b inthe position shown in Figure 6. Thus, with the parts in the positionshown in Figure 6, the depression of lever 9b will cause pawl 16b' tomove the movable lock member 1911 to the right, as viewed in Figure 6,so that the cutout 53 moves away from the transverse portion 41 ofmember 39, and the movable pin portions 2 and 3 are thus released to theinuence of leaf spring 8, which moves the mechanism to its openposition, the crank portion 7 thus rising so as to raise the pin 15b andthe movable lock member 19b to the position shown in Figure 5, until theextension 57 of lock member 19b engages the transverse portion 41 of themember 39, and in this position of the parts the edge portion 19b oflock member 19b is again in engagement with roller 50.

The lever 9b is limited in its upward movement by engagement of atransverse lower edge portion 59 of lever 9b with the base plate 1b. TheU-shaped cross-section of the lever 9b provides a covering for the pawl16b, and the spring 56 serves to return the lever 9b to its restposition so that it replaces the spring 27 of the embodiment of Figures1 to 4.

As compared with the embodiment of Figures l to 4, the embodiment ofFigures 5 and 6 has the advantage of greater simplicity and thereforeless likelihood 'of faulty operation.

A further improvement of the structure of the invention in the samemanner is illustrated in the embodiment of Figures 7 to 10. Thisembodiment of the invention is provided with a base plate 1c having thecurved tongues 4c and 5c struck therefrom and turnably guiding theelongated member 6 which is identical with the elongated member 6 of theabove described embodiment in that this elongated member 6 includesintermediate its ends a crank portion 7 which is in engagement with theleaf spring 8 and has connected to its ends the movable pin portions 2and 3 which cooperate with the stationary pin portions 2a and 3a,respectively, in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.

The base plate 1c is provided with-an upwardly struck ear 61 whichcarries a pivot pin 62 on which a pair of parallel plates 63 and 64 areturnably mounted, these plates respectively engaging opposite faces ofear 61, asI is most clearly shown in Figure 10. In this embodimentast/mtr 7 of the invention, the lever 9c, which is provided with thefinger piece 10c, is in the forml of aflat plate which extendsbetween-thel plates 63: and 64 and which is pivotally connected theretoby pivot pin 65, as is most clearly shown in Figure l0. It will be notedfrom Figure l0 that the outer ends ofpins 62 and 65 are upset to preventmovement of plates 63 and 64 away from each other. The pawl 16C isprovided with a circular end portion 66 which is turnably located in amating circular cutout formed in the lever 9c. The pawl 16C is alsolocated between the side plates 63 and 6d and: is in this way securedagainst falling from the mechanism.

Both ofthe side plates 63 and 64 are further fixed to the pin C whichturnably carries an annula-rly grooved roller 3de in the same way as thepin 15b of Figures 5 and 6, this roller engaging crank portion 7, as ismost clearly shown in Figure 9. A pivot pin 67 is fixed to and extendsbetween the plates 63 andV 64 and pivotally carries a movable lockmember 68vwhich is hook-shaped, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the hookmember being provided with the hook-like projection 69 and with a pairof additional projections '70 and 71. The projection 70 cooperates withthe pawl 16C. A stationary lock member 72 is fixed to the base plate leand is provided with a projection 73 which cooperates with the hook end69 of lock member 63. A wire spring 74 is fixed intermediate its ends toa pin 74' which is fixed to the side plates 63 and 64, and thissubstantially U-shaped spring 74 presses on the one hand against thelever 9c and on the other hand against the movable lock member 68 andserves simultaneously as a return spring for the lever 9c and as aspring for urging the movable lock member 65 into locking engagementwith the stationary lock member 72.

In order to limit upward turning movement of side plates 63 and 64, atleast one of these side plates is provided with a projection whichengages a stop 8G formed on the ear 6i. The lever 9c is formed with aslot 7S into which a tongue 76 struck from side plate 63 extends tolimit turnina of lever 9c with respect to theside plates 63 and 64.

The above structure operates in the following manner:

When the movable pin portions 2 and 3 are in their closed position, asshown in Figure 7, then the left elongated free portion of level 9c issubstantially parallel to the base plate 1c. The spring 74 urges thelever 9c upwardly until the lower end of slot '7S engages the tongue 76.With the parts in the position shown in Figure 7, depression of lever 9cmoves the turning axis of the pawl 16C so that the latter presses onprojection 70 of the movable lock member 68 to turny the latter in acountern clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 7, against the actionof spring 74 out of engagement with projection 73 of the stationary lockmember 72, so that in this way the spring Slis free to move the crankportion 7 upwardly which. in turn, moves the pin 15C upwardly to turnthe side plates 63 and 64 upwardly to the position of Figure 8 where theloose leaf binder mechanism is in its open position. As the pin portions2 and 3 move away from the stationary pin portions 2a and 3a,respectively, the pawl loc slides along the projection 70 of the movablelock member 68 and becomes located in the cutout 77 formed in lever 9c.Also the spring 74 returns the lever 9c to its rest position where thelower right end 78 of lever 9c, as viewed in Figures 7 and 8, engages astop portion 79 of the ear 61. In order to limit the extent to which themechanism is opened, the plate 64 turns until it engages stop 80. ltwill be noted that the tongue 76`is now located at the top end of slot75.

In order to close the loose leaf binder mechanism, the lever 9c is againdepressed so that the lever 9c turns the side plates 63 and 6ddownwarchy about the pivot pin 62 through engagement of lever 9c withthe tongue 76. The

movable lock member 68 slides along the projection 73 of the stationarylock member 72 and, when themechanism is in its closed position, the`hook end 69 of movable lock member 6d moves under the iniuence ofspring 74 into locking engagement with the stationary lock member '72 sothat the side plates' 63 and dt-are securedin their lower position.During this downward movement of the side plates63 and 64 the pin 15e,through the rollerV 38e, of course turns the movable pin portions 2 and3 to their closed position. Upon release of the lever 9c, the latter isreturned to its upper rest position by the spring 74, this movementbeing limited by engagement of tongue 76 with the lower end of slot 75.At this time, the pawl 16C falls into the position shown in Figure 7whereupon the next depression of lever 9c the movable lock member 68-will be turned out of locking engagement with the stationary lock member72. Thus, with this embodiment of the invention the plates 63 and 64together with the pin c and movable lock member 63 form a movable lockmeans performing the same results as the movable lock means of Figures 1to 4 and Figures 5 and 6.

The embodiment of Figures 7 to l0 provides the advantage of locatingthepawl les, the movable lock member 63, and the spring 7d between the sideplates 63 and 64 so that these elements are safely hidden and guided:

to prevent faulty operation of the mechanism during opening and closingthereof.

It will be understood that eachI of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofloose leaf binder mechanisms differing from the types described above.

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodiedintloose leaf binder mechanisms an operating member of which is movablein one direction of closing and opening the mechanism, I do not intendto be limitedtherefore, such adaptations should and are intended toV becomprehended Within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a loose leaf binder a mechanism` for moving an elongated memberformed with a crank portion between a first and a second positiony andfor releasing the member from the second position thereof comprising,incombination, base plate means; ay first spring adapted to engage thecrank portion lof said elongated member for urging the same to the firstposition thereof; a stationary lock member fixed to said base platemeans; movable lock means for holding the elongated member in the secondposition thereof when said movable lock means is in a locked position,said movable lock means engaging said crank portion to move the same andto be moved thereby and having al locking portion engaging saidstationary lock member when said movable lock means is in said lockedposition thereof; a manually operable lever turnably carried by one ofsaid means for turning movement from a rest position together with saidmovable lock means for moving the latter to said locked position thereofto simultaneously move said crank portion through said movable lockmeans against the action of said first spring-during movement of theelongated member to the second position thereof; a second springengaging said lever for urging the latter to said re'st positionthereof; and pawl means turnably carried by said lever and engaging saidmovable lock means for moving said locking portion thereof out ofengagement with 'said stationary lock member to release said movablelock meansl and said elongated member to the influence ofl said firstspring to move the elongated member from the second to the firstposition thereof, so that said lever is moved in only one directionduring movement of the elongated member between the two positionsthereof.

2. In a loose leaf binder a mechanism for moving an elongated Imemberformed with a crank portion between a first and a second position andfor releasing the member from the second position thereof comprising, incombination, base plate means; a first spring adapted to engage thecrank portion of said elongated member for urging the same to the firstposition thereof; a stationary lock member fixed to lsaid base platemeans; movable lock means for holding the elongated member in the secondposition thereof when said movable lock means is in a locked position,said movable lock means being movably carried by said base plate meansand engaging said crank portion to move the same and to be movedthereby, and said movable lock means having a movable lock memberslidably carried by the remainder of said movable lock means formovement into engagement with said stationary lock member when saidmovable lock means is in said locked position thereof, said movable lockmember being formed with lan opening passing therethrough; a manuallyoperable lever turnably carried by one of said means for turningmovement from a rest position together with said movable lock means formoving the latter to said locked position thereof to simultaneously movesaid crank portion through said movable lock means against the action ofsaid first spring during movement of the elongated member to the secondposition thereof; a second spring engaging said lever for urging thellatter to said rest position thereof; and pawl means turnably carried bysaid lever and extending into said opening of said movable lock memberfor engaging and moving the latter out of engagement with saidstationary lock member to release said movable lock means and saidelongated member to the infiuence of said first spring to move theelongated member from the second to the' first position thereof, so thatsaid lever is moved in only one direction during movement of theelongated member between the two positions thereof.

3. A mechanism as defined in claim 2 and wherein said movable lock meanscomprises an elongated carrier which slidably carries said movable lockmember and which is pivotally carried by said base plate means, and apin fixed to said carrier and engaging said crank portion of saidelongated member, said lever being turnably carried by said carrier.

4. A mechanism as defined in claim 3 and wherein said stationary lockmember is formed with an opening and wherein a third spring engages saidmovable lock member to urge an end thereof into said opening of saidstationary lock member.

5. A mechanism as dened in claim l and wherein a third spring engagessaid pawl means to maintain the latter in engagement with said lockingportion of said movable lock means.

6. A mechanism as defined in claim 2 and wherein said movable lock meanscomprises an elongated carrier of U-shaped cross section which slidablycarries said movable lock member between opposite side walls of saidcarrier and which is pivotally carried by said base plate means, and apin fixed to said carrier and engaging said crank portion of saidelongated member, said lever being turnably carried by said carrier.

7. A mechanism as dened in c laim 2 and wherein said movable lock meanscomprises an elongated carrier of U-shaped cross section which slidablycarries said movable lock .member between opposite side walls of saidcarrier and which is pivotally carried by said base plate means, and apin fixed to said carrier and engaging said crank portion of saidelongated member, said lever being turnably carried by said carrier,said lever including a bifurcated end portion pivotally connected tosaid side walls of said carrier and in which said pawl means is located.

8. A mechanism a-s defined in claim l, said lever having an elongatedfree end portion which is substantially parallel to said base platemeans when said lever is in said rest position thereof, and limitingmeans engaging said lever to prevent movement thereof beyond said restposition under the iniiuence of said second spring.

9. A mechanism as dened in claim 8, said free end portion of said leverbeing formed with an opening and said limiting means including anelongated pin extending through said opening and having a head endengaging said lever.

10. A mechanism as dened in claim 9, wherein said lsecond spring is inthe form of a coil spring located about said elongated pin and engagingsaid lever to urge the same toward said head end of said elongated pin.

ll. In a loose leaf binder a mechanism for moving an elongated memberformed with a crank portion between a first and a second position andfor releasing the member from the second position thereof comprising, incombination, base plate means; a first spring adapted to engage thecrank portion of said elongated member for urging the same to the firstposition thereof; a stationary lock member fixed to said base platemeans and being formed with an opening; a stationary guide member alsoformed with an opening, being fixed to and forming part of said baseplate means and being spaced from and located opposite said stationarylock member; movable lock means extending freely through said openingsof said stationary lock member and said guide member to be guided in itsmovement by said stationary lock member and guide member for holding theelongated member in the second position thereof when said movable lockmeans is in a locked position, said movable lock means engaging saidcrank portion to move the same and to be moved thereby and having alocking portion engaging said stationary lock member when said movablelock means is in said locked position thereof; a manually operable leverturnably carried by one of said stationary members for turning movementfrom a rest position together with said movable lock means for movingthe latter to said locked position thereof to simultaneously move saidcrank portion throughsaid movable lock means against the action of saidfirst spring during movement of the elongated member to the secondposition thereof; a second spring engaging said lever for urging thelatter to said rest position thereof; and pawl means turnably carried bysaid lever and engaging said movable lock means fo-r moving said lockingportion thereof out of engagement with said stationary lockmember torelease said movable lock means andsaid elongated member to theinfluence of said first spring to move the elongated member from thesecond to the first position thereof, so that said lever is moved inonly one direction during movement of the elongated member between thetwo positions thereof.

l2. A mechanism as defined in claim l1 and wherein said stationary lockmember includes a transverse portion substantially parallel to said baseplate means and defining part of said opening in said stationary lockmember and said locking portion of said movable lock means beingintegral with the latter and formed with a cutout in which saidtransverse portion of said stationary lock member is located when saidmovable lock means is in said locked position thereof.

13. A mechanism as defined in claim l and wherein said movable lockmeans is in the form of a plate having a pin fixed thereto and locatedin the path of movement of said crank portion of said elongated member,said plate being formed in an edge portion thereof with a cutout inwhich said pawl means extends to engage said plate for moving the latterfrom said locked position thereof.

14. A mechanism as dened in claim l and wherein said manually operablelever has a U-shaped cross section and is provided with opposite sidewalls between' which said pawl means is located.

l5. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 and wherein said' movable lockmeans is in the form of a pair of plates turnably carried by said baseplate means and engaged by said manually operable lever for movementinto said locked position of said movable lock means, saidlockingrportion of said movable lock means being in the form of a hookmem er pivotally carried by at least one of said plates, and saidmovable lock means also including a` pin xed to at least one of saidplates and located in the path of movement of said crank portion of saidelongated member.

16. A mechanism as defined in claim 15 and wherein said' second springengages said hook member to urge the same into locking engagement withsaid stationary lock member, said hook member having an edge portionengaged by said pawl means when said movable lock means is in saidlocked position thereof so that upon move ment of said lever against theactionv of said second spring said pawl means moves said hook member outor engagement with said stationary lock member.

17. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 and wherein said movable lockmeans is in the form of a pair of plates turnably carried by said baseplate means and en-` gaged by said manually operable lever for movementinto said locked position of said movable lock means, said lockingportion of said movable lock means being in the form of a hook memberpivotally carried by and located between said plates, and said movablelock means also including a pin iixed to at least one or said plates andlocated in the path of movement of said crank portion of said elongatedmember, said lever extending between and being pivotally connected tosaid plates.

18. A mechanism as defined in claim l, said base plate means includingan ear integral therewith and said movable lock means being in the formof a pair of plates turnably carried by said ear and engaged by saidmanually of said movable lock means, said locking portion of saidmovable lock means being in the form of a hook member pivotally carriedby at least one of said plates, and said movable lock means alsoincluding a pin fixed to at least one of said plates and located in thepath of movement of said crank portion of said elongated member, atleast one of said plates having a stop portion engaging said ear tolimit the extent of movement of said movable pin portions from saidstationary pin portions.

19. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 and wherein said movable lockmeans is in the form of a pair of plates turnahly carried by saidv baseplatey means and engaged by said manually operable level for movementinto said locked position of said movable lock means, said lockingportion of said movable lock means being in the form of a hook memberpivotally carried by and located between said plates, and said movablelock means also including a pin fixed to at least ione of said platesand located in the path of movement of said crank portion of saidelongated member,A said lever extending between and being pivotallyconnected to said plates, and said lever being formed with an opening,one of said plates having a tongue extending into said `opening of saidlever to limit movement of the latter with respect to said plates.

20. A mechanism as deiined in claim 1 and wherein said movable lockmeans is in the form of a pair of plates turnably carried by said baseplate means and engaged by said manually operable level for movementinto said locked position of said movable lock means, said lockingportion of said movable lock means being in the form of a hook memberpivotally carried by at least one of said plates, and said movable lockmeans also including a pin iixed to at least one of said plates andlocated in the path of movement of said crank portion of said alongatedmember, said second spring being substantially U-shaped and having apair of legs one of which engages said lever to urge the latter to said.rest position thereof and the other of which engages said hook member tourge the latter into locking engagement with said stationary lockmember.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED vSTATES PATENTS394,249 Clifford Dec. 11, 1888 778,910 Sonnecken Jan. 3, 1905 1,618,963Knaak Peb. 22, 1927 2,494,898 Rea Jan. 17, 1950 2,519,932 Rostoker Aug.22, 1950 2,789,561 Bonn Apr. 23, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 981,365 FranceJan. l0, 1951

